Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 29, 2025
Would it be necessary to send down to India for help? Cholera at Capoo might mean cholera everywhere in this new unknown country. What about the women and children? The Wandering Jew was abroad; would he wander in our direction, with the legendary curse following on his heels? Was I destined to meet this dread foe a third time? I admit that the very thought caused a lump to rise in my throat.
"I am going to Capoo," he said quietly. In his silent, quick way he was taking in all that we were doing. We were packing medical stores for Capoo. I did not answer him, but waited for further details. We could not speak openly before the two assistants at that moment, and somehow we never spoke about it at all. I glanced up at him. His face was pale beneath the sunburn.
I did not look up, and she stood quite still over me looking down at me probably noting that the hair was getting a little thin on the top of my head. This is not a joke. I repeat she was probably noting that. People do note such things at such moments. "If you do not take me," she said, in a singularly even voice, "I shall go up to Capoo.
As I walked back towards the hospital the brigadier came running behind me, and caught me up as I stepped in by the window. I had neither time nor inclination just then to tell him that I had news from Capoo. The Sikh no doubt brought official news which would reach their destination in due course. And in the mean time Charlie Thurkow was dying.
He looked ghastly, but we all did that, and I took no notice. He took up the ward-sheets and glanced down the columns. "Wish I had gone to Capoo," he muttered. "It couldn't have been worse than this." I had finished my writing, and I rose. As I did so Charlie suddenly clapped his hand to his hip. "I say!" he exclaimed, "I say!"
They were pleased to think that I should have to decide which doctor should go to Capoo, where a sickness unknown and incomprehensible had broken out. It was true that I was senior surgeon of the division; indeed, I was surgeon- major of a tract of country as big as Scotland. It is India now, but in the days of which I write the question had not been settled with a turbulent native prince.
Their doctor poor young Barber died, and the self-importance of the Capoo garrison oozed out of their finger-ends. They sent down post-haste to us for help, and a special letter addressed to me detailed symptoms of no human malady. I had two men under me. The question seemed simple enough. One of them would have to go. As to which one there was really no doubt whatever. The duty fell upon Thurkow.
Elsie Matheson was bound to come into this matter sooner or later I knew that; but I did not quite know in what capacity her advent might be expected. "What is this news from Capoo?" she asked, without attempting to disguise her anxiety. Her father, assistant political officer in this affair, was not at Capoo or near there. He was upstairs playing a rubber. "Bad," I answered.
"Why couldn't the governor let me go and take my chance?" The answer to this question being beyond my ken, I kept a discreet silence. Giving him further instructions, I presently left my junior to complete the task of packing up the necessary medicaments for Capoo. In less than half an hour Fitz and I mounted our horses.
And in view of this the wholesome law of seniority was invented. The missions come in rotation, and according to seniority the men step forward. Fitz Marner's place was at my side, where, by the way, I never want a better man, for his will was iron, and he had no nerves whatever. Capoo, the stricken, was calling for help. Fitz and I knew more about cholera than we cared to discuss just then.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking